Slidable Weight Mechanism for Adjustable Golf Club Head Center of Gravity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club head weighting systems are complex, costly, and increase the overall weight of the club, limiting the adjustability of center of gravity and moment of inertia, especially along channels that intersect or follow the curvature of the club head.
Innovation Solution
A slidable weight mechanism that fits within contoured channels, featuring a keyed anti-rotation structure and clamping system, allowing for adjustable placement and secure fixation along intersecting channels without increasing the fixed component's weight or impact sound, and can be concealed for aesthetic purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple rails are used to clamp weights in channels, then weight fixation is achieved, but device complexity and overall weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of weight fixation from the complex multi-rail clamping structure and implements it through a single integrated rail with strategic positioning features. The rail includes a floor, side walls, and specifically positioned shoulders that engage with the weight at key locations, eliminating the need for multiple rails while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple structural elements (floor, side walls, shoulders, and positioning features) into a single integrated rail component. This consolidation reduces the number of separate parts from multiple rails to one unified structure that performs all necessary fixation functions through its geometric features.
2Reliability
If multiple rails are used to clamp weights in channels, then weight fixation is achieved, but overall weight of the club head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential fixation function from the multi-rail system and implements it through a single rail with strategically placed shoulders and positioning features. This reduces the material required while maintaining the ability to securely fix weights at desired positions within the channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the rail structure by incorporating specifically positioned shoulders at critical locations and using rounded weight surfaces that engage with these shoulders. This geometric optimization provides effective fixation with minimal material, reducing overall weight compared to multiple full rails.
3Adaptability or versatility
If intersecting channels are used for weight adjustment, then center of gravity control flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the channel system into modular sections with standardized rail components. Each intersecting channel uses the same basic rail structure with floor, side walls, and shoulders, allowing for repetitive manufacturing processes. The weights can move independently along each channel segment while the rails provide consistent geometric constraints at intersections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal rail design that functions effectively in both straight and intersecting channel configurations. The standardized rail geometry with positioned shoulders works equally well in single channels and at channel intersections, simplifying manufacturing by using the same component design throughout the club head structure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If weighting system components are added to control center of gravity, then adjustability is improved, but fixed component weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential adjustment function from complex weighting systems and implements it through minimal fixed components: a single rail with strategically positioned shoulders and geometric features. These extracted elements provide the necessary constraints for weight positioning without the excess weight of multiple rails or complex clamping mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the rail structure, positioning shoulders and features at critical locations that maximize adjustability control. The rounded weight surfaces and precisely positioned shoulders work together to provide effective center of gravity control with minimal material, reducing fixed component weight while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head comprising a means for adjusting the location of the center of gravity and a slidable weight assembly are disclosed herein. The club head comprises two channels, each having at least one shoulder portion, a floor, and a rail extending upwards from the floor. The channels intersect at a junction, and a slidable weight comprising a top portion, a mechanical fastener, a clamping structure, and a keyed, anti-rotation structure is disposed within at least one of the channels. When the mechanical fastener is tightened, the top portion presses against the at least one shoulder portion and pulls the clamping structure upward so that the clamping structure grips the rail. The rails are spaced from one another at the junction, and the clamping structure allows the slidable weight to be moved into either of the channels without being indexed.